Mental Health U

Lifting Lives: Tequila Smith on Transforming Homelessness and Mental Health Care

• Bill Emahiser

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Tequila Smith steps into the spotlight, bringing her wisdom and warmth to a heartfelt discussion on the challenges of homelessness and mental health. As a team lead care coordinator at the Life Revitalization Center, Tequila's insights into northwest Ohio's most vulnerable populations are a guiding light for those seeking to understand the complexities of social work. Her innovative Care Navigator program stands as a testament to the power of comprehensive support, blending case management and trust-building to lift individuals from the shadows of uncertainty into places of hope and stability. Listen closely as Tequila, together with community organizations and Unison Health, crafts a narrative of compassion, highlighting the one-stop-shop approach to service provision that's changing lives one day at a time.

The heartbeat of this episode resonates with Tequila's dedication to outreach, setting the stage for an engaging conversation about the profound impact that comes from connecting those in need to a network of support. Whether through case managers, family ties, or her own open arms, Teila's passion for her mission is palpable, offering a beacon of hope to families navigating the rough waters of homelessness. As our dialogue unfolds, we learn of her monthly networking event and how vital partnerships with local shelters and housing programs are fueling the journey towards a community where every person can find a place to call home. This is more than a conversation—it's a call to action, an invitation to witness the strides being made towards a future where compassion meets capability, and where every story has the chance for a happier ending.

Tequila Smith:

Our team took part with an event called the point in time count, and this brings awareness to understand the number of people who live unsheltered in our community. It also gives homeless individuals support with resources and answering questions that they might have. So it was just it's a lot to learn but, like I said, it goes back to just educating yourself and what can you do for your community.

Bill Emahiser:

Hello and welcome. I'm your host, bill Emahiser, and you're listening to Mental Health U, the podcast dedicated to demystifying and destigmatizing mental health issues. So if you or someone you know is struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma or some other mental health issue, then this podcast is for you. This episode is proudly sponsored by Unison Health, dedicated to making lives better through compassionate, quality mental health and addiction treatment services. Learn more at unisonhealthorg. I am very excited to have Tequila Smith, team lead care coordinator at the Life Revitalization Center, today on the podcast. We're going to talk about her program and homelessness and mental health in northwest Ohio. Tequila, welcome to the podcast. I'm so excited for you to be here today.

Tequila Smith:

Hi Bill, thank you for having me.

Bill Emahiser:

Thanks for being on the show, and could you tell us a little bit about your background, your professional experience?

Tequila Smith:

Sure Well, I've been at Unison now for 10 years. I started on the children's team at STAR with Health Home, and then I later moved into case management with the dogs. I graduated at ONS with an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice and then I later graduated at Spring Arbor with my bachelor's in social work and my master's in social work.

Bill Emahiser:

Can you tell us a little bit about the program that you're running right now, the Care Navigator program?

Tequila Smith:

Sure, so our program is embedded in Cherry Street Mission. It's on the first floor and we're located at 1501 Monroe Street. Our program is called the Care Navigator Services and our team has collaborated with Cherry Street Mission. So we also assist with the Caleb House and it's a transitional housing for four men. We get them to, you know stable, independent housing. And we also assist with the Hope Respite House. Now, this is a house that offers assistance for men and women who have severe physical and mental health diagnosis. We provide a range of services such as housing stability, linkage to community resources and overall support with treatment goals. So most of our referrals come from Cherry Street Mission hospital discharges, local shelters and probation and parole officers.

Bill Emahiser:

This is kind of a unique program, right. I mean, it's kind of different. You mentioned that you're embedded. What else makes your program so unique?

Tequila Smith:

Well, it's a walk-in office. So Monday through Friday we provide services for the homeless population and those who are incarcerated in a work release program, so it's like a one-stop shop. We complete the registration, we complete DAs, refer to psychiatric evaluations, we refer to individualized therapy if they want referrals to IOP or recovery house if needed. We also offer groups here. We have two telehealth rooms for convenience. We provide linkage to resources in the community. We educate clients with programs that are offered at Cherry Street Mission. Cherry Street Mission offers vocational training, dietary education, resume building, automotive training and workforce development.

Bill Emahiser:

Wow. So you really, when you say one-stop shop, you're not joking. No, that's amazing, and so if there is a guest at the shelter I just want to make sure I understand this If there are guests at the shelter, they can just walk Right down to the Unison office and walk right on in right, right.

Tequila Smith:

We are trying to work on that convenience.

Bill Emahiser:

What types of mental health support services and interventions have you found to be most effective in addressing the needs of homeless individuals?

Tequila Smith:

Primarily case management, that support, following through for the intense population of the housing crisis, medical follow-up that meaning psychiatric and physical and addressing trauma or any addiction with therapy and IOP services.

Bill Emahiser:

But are some of the the barriers your clients experience due to home having both a mental health issue and experiencing homelessness we've noticed, trust.

Tequila Smith:

Many have lost all support systems and you know some have Past criminal history and evictions and unhealthy relationships. So our biggest challenges are just being transparent with them, however, giving them, them options that their mental health does not define where they're going. So just gaining that rapport. It helps build trust and it later assists them with the overall stabilization with housing.

Bill Emahiser:

This truly is a relationship business. With regard to that, do you walk with them through this whole process? How does that?

Tequila Smith:

we do and and we want to know where they're at. So you know we walk through the whole process. I mean, just think about it, you're back on your feet again, you're back getting independent housing, or some are going into a group home, but you know they're out of this shelter. So we want to, you know, walk along beside them. But then afterwards we want aftercare and we want to make sure you know how's it going, how is your progress, you know. So, yeah, we still follow up with aftercare services and if they feel that you know they don't need us the more intense case management Then then we can refer to traditional case management.

Bill Emahiser:

What are examples of successful collaborations that you've had in this program with mental health agencies? Maybe homeless shelters, housing programs?

Tequila Smith:

Oh yeah. So the Cherry Street mission. It has been such a great assets asset with collaborations like we bounce off ideas and, you know, making a difference in our community. But Examples that I could say is you know the reentry coalition. I collaborate with them. They're located like in the government center I discuss. You know our services, what they can do to, you know, get individuals back into the community successfully. The Lucas County Housing Board they're great Mercy Outreach, nha, npi and the housing first. You know, just to name a few. But yeah, it just takes a village.

Bill Emahiser:

I was gonna say, just listing all of those different programs, how it might be overwhelming for an individual to even figure out or to even know what would exist out there. You've mentioned some things. I've been in the the mental health, you know, working in the mental health system for a long time, and you've mentioned some organizations I would not have even thought of For my clients. So I think you know, having that, truly having that navigator to assist somebody walking through all those systems and knowing what's available Right, right, yes.

Bill Emahiser:

So important. I was doing a little bit of research before I booked you on the podcast and I was seeing these, these just horrific videos of homeless folks with severe drug addiction, mental health issues, just kind of en masse in places like Philadelphia and San Francisco. In your opinion, what can we do locally to make sure that the extent of that problem that they have in Philadelphia and San Francisco doesn't happen here in northwest Ohio?

Tequila Smith:

Well, I can tell you, Bill, there is no easy fix. I mean, this is a huge issue in our country. However, what we saw here, you know, at the shelter is that many individuals are institutionalized, not accepting treatment for their mental health and drug and alcohol addiction. They're unemployed, underemployed. I mean, there's been domestic violence, etc. It's a complex issue, but my opinion would be educating yourself and being involved in your community. Our team took part with an event called the point in time count and this brings awareness to understand the number of people who live unsheltered in our community. It also gives homeless individuals support with resources and answering questions that they might have. So it was just it's a lot to learn, but, like I said, it goes back to just educating yourself. And what can you do for your community? Just come down here, even come and talk to me.

Bill Emahiser:

Are there opportunities for folks to you know to get involved?

Tequila Smith:

Well, they can come right here to 1501 Monroe Street. They have opportunity to volunteer in the kitchen. They have volunteering in the library. They have a library upstairs. It's very helpful, you know, because everyone likes to just sit down in a quiet place and read a book. They also have resume building here. So you know people could even assist with that, if you know. You know computers and yeah. So there's just a range of stuff. There's even artwork. We have people come out and they help with group, with art, and it's just it's. It's a great place to be, to assist and take your time and volunteer.

Bill Emahiser:

And I can hear your I, your passion is contagious for this, this kind of work. I know you and your team down there we love it because you guys do amazing work on it shows and I thank you and I'm thinking, if I'm a case manager, I'm in the system or maybe I have a, maybe I'm a family member and I have a family member that is struggling with homelessness, how I know we have a walk in, but is there any other way that people can can contact your program?

Tequila Smith:

Well, sure you can contact me directly, 419-936-7324, or you can email is cherry street mission at unison healthorg and I also. Every first Wednesday I network at the government center at 11am to 1pm discussing our services and all that we provide.

Bill Emahiser:

Fantastic, wonderful. Well, I have really appreciated your time today, tequila. I appreciate your passion for this work and all the good that you're doing. We're just really blessed to have you and have your program, and I look forward to chatting with you again in the future about your program and how things are going.

Tequila Smith:

Oh well, thank you so much, and thank you for having me. I enjoyed talking about it, so, yes, thank you.

Bill Emahiser:

This podcast has been brought to you by unison health. Unison Health is a nonprofit mental health agency dedicated to serving the Northwest Ohio community for the past 50 years.